FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia: Indian Railways outplayed, suffers heavy loss against Japan’s Denso Iris
By half-time, Iris had piled up a 58-18 lead, leaving Railways staring at a huge deficit and an improbable comeback. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
By half-time, Iris had piled up a 58-18 lead, leaving Railways staring at a huge deficit and an improbable comeback. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Indian Railways promised a fight but delivered a no-show, crumbling like a sapling would before a tornado against Denso Iris 119-35 in a woefully one-sided Group-B clash in the FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia (WBLA) at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.
Inside the arc, from beyond it or from the free-throw line, Railways, the 41-time National champion, was no match for the Japanese side.
By half-time, Iris had piled up a 58-18 lead, leaving Railways staring at a huge deficit and an improbable comeback. Nearly every turnover compounded Railways’ misery, as Iris ruthlessly converted them into fast-break points.
The gulf was particularly glaring from beyond the arc. Iris converted five three-pointers in the first quarter and 10 in the second, exposing Railways’ inability to contain its perimeter attack. Railways struggled with wayward passes, erratic shooting and a defence that offered little resistance. The Indian champion was outplayed in virtually every department, with the contest threatening to become a rout well before the break.
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Earlier, title contender Sichuan Yuanda Meile (China) made a strong start to its campaign, beating Cathay Life Tigers (Tapiei) 92-70 in a Group-A match. The Chinese side’s foreign recruits, Australian power forward Sara Blicavs (27 points) and American guard Chennedy Carter (22), led the scoring, combining for 49 points—more than half of Sichuan’s total.
RESULTS
Group-A: Sichuan Yuanda Meile 92 (Sara Blicavs 27, Chennedy Carter 22, Song Gao 110 bt Cathay Life Tigers 70 (Chu Chu 16, Hui-Ju Liu 14).
B: Denso Iris (Jpn) 119 (Haruna Kasagi 23, Mnami Yabu 16, Mo Shiraishi 16, Sokhna Sylla 12, Hanami Shinohara 11, Mai Kawal 10) bt Indian Railways 35.
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